Carrier-receiving mechanism for pneumatic-transit tubes



Patented may 2,4899. B. c. BATCHELLER.

cAnmEn nscelvma mEcHAmsm For: PNEumAnc TRANSIT rusas.

(Application filed Apr. 9, 1898.)

4 Sheets-Sheet l.

(No Model.)

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Nb. 623,973. Patented May 2, |899. B. c. BATCHELLER.

CARRIER RECEIVING MECHANISM FUR PNEUMATIC TRANSIT TUBES.

(Application Bled Apr. 9, 1898.) (No Model.) u 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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No. 623,973. Patented May 2, |899.

B. C. VBATCHELLER CARRIER RECEIVING MECHANISM FOR FNEUMATIC TRANSIT TUBESR.

- (Application mea Apr. 9, 189s.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheei 4.

BIRNEY C. BATCHELLER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CARRIER-RECEIVING MECHANISNI FOR PNEUMATiC-TRANSIT TUBES.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 623,973, dated May 2, 1899.

Application filed April 9, 1898. Serial No. 676,977. tNo model.)

T0 @ZZ wtoin it may cmwerfc:

Be itknown that I, BIRNEY C. BATCHELLER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Carrier-Receiving Mechanism for Pneu matic- Transit Tubes, of which the following is a true and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

My invention relates to the construction and operation of the devices used to receive a carrier after its transmission through a pneumatic-transit tube, my object being to, in the first place, provide for the escape of the air in the receiver lying in front of a carrier as it enters such receiver, while at the same time utilizing it to cushion and check the impetus of the carrier'. In the second place I desire to provide improved actuating' mechanism for moving the receiver into and out of registry with the transmission-tube, and, lastly, I design to improve various details of the receiving mechanism.

The nature of my improvements will be best understood as described in connection with the drawings, in which they are illustrated, and in which- Figure l is a side elevation ofthe receiving apparatus; Fig. 2, a central longitudinal section therethrough; Fig. 3*, a plan view of the same device; Fig. 4, a longitudinal section taken at right angles to that of Fig. 2 through the trunnions of the receiver. Fig. isalongitudinal section through the valve seated at the end of the receiver and regulating the escape of airtherefrom. Fig. (iisasimilar view of a modified and preferred construction of this valve and its cooperative parts. Fig. 7 is a view illustrating the action of the mechanism for releasing thelatch shown in Fig. 6. Fig. S is a sectional View of another modification of the air-releasing valve; and Fig. 9 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the motor and its coacting parts by which the receiver is shifted into and out of registryv with the transmission-tube.

A indicates the frame of the apparatus, provided, as shown, with trunnion-bearings B B for the trunnions of the receiver and to which, in a position to register with the receiver, is secured the end C ot' a transmission-tube, the said end being surrounded by a box C' in communication with a tube through slots c c, &c., and with an air-pipe C2 through which the moving current of air passes from the transmission-tube.

C3 indicates the face of the transmissiontube with which the end. D' ot' the receiver registers.

D indicates the receiver, pivoted on trunnions moving in the bearings B and adapted at its frontend D to register with the transmission-tube, as shown, the face of the receiver being continued in the form ofa shield, as indicated at D2, so that when the receiver moves away from registry with the tube the said shield will close the end of the tube. At the rear end of the receiver it is advisable to provide cushioning-washers, as indicated at D3, and preferably through the end of the receiver I from an opening D4 for the escape of air, said opening serving also as a seat for a valve, as indicated at d4 in Figs. 5, (i, and S.

E is a tube or pipe opening into the rear end of the receiver, as indicated at E', and through the face of the shield D2, as indicated at E2, the opening E2 being in such position that it registers with the transmission-tube when the receiver has been moved lto the position where it should deliver the carrier and so that air from the transmission-tube will then pass through the tnbeE and into the rear of the receiver, so as to force the carrier out of the same. In order to prevent the escape ot' air from the receiver through this pipe, I provide a non-return valve F3.

At F, Figs. 5 and 6, I have shown a valve adapted to seat itself in and close the passage D4, and at F', Fig. 8, I have shown avalve serving the same purpose, but constructed as a piston-valve iitting and moving in the passage D4.

F2 in all the modifications illustrated indicates the valve-stein, and in Fig. 5 I have illustrated the simplest construction of the valve for regulating the escape of air from. the receiver, the valve being held to its seat by the resilient force of a spring, which is preferably made regulable in tension, so that the valve will open whenever the air in the receiver exceeds a determined pressure, the increase of pressure relied upon to open the IOC valve being that due to the compression of air by the entrance of a carrier, and the purpose of the valve being to permit the escape of this air, so as to prevent it from forcing the carrier back into the transmission-tube. In the construction shown in Fig. 5 and indicated also on a smaller scale in Figs. l and 2 the opening D1 is formed in a threaded annular casting G, which screws into the end of the receiver and forms on the outside of the valve-seat d1 a chamber G', opening into an exhaust-passage II I I II2 II3 through ports G2. Upon the outer end of this annular casting screws the nut G3, into which in turn screws the nut G4, indicating a bindingnut, while into the nut G'1 screws the threaded annulus G6, G7 again indicating a binding-nut. It will be obvious that with this construction the adjustment of the tension of the spring can be made to any desired degree. I have shown in Figs. l, 2, 3, and G a slot F3 in the end of the valve-stem F2, and in Figs. l and 2 I have indicated a leverf as passing through this slot and pivoted to the top of a standard j. It is obvious that by moving this lever the valve can be opened at any time.

In the exigencies of use it is found that the pressure in the transmission-tube and its connected parts will vary eonsiderably,and owing to this fact the action ot the valve-seating spring in the simple form illustrated in Fig. 5 caunotbe relied upon to give the best result, because if the pressure is abnormally high in the line it might open the valve irrespective of the movement of a carrier, and it at any rate would be apt to result in the valve opening too soon after the entrance of a carrier into the receiver, while, 011 the other hand, if the pressure is abnormally low in the pipe the valve will not open promptly enough. Again, I have found it better to provide means for holding the valve to open the passage D4 after it has been opened by the pressure of air in the front of the carrier, thus insuring the escape of all the air lying in front of the carrier and the movement of the carrier to the extreme back end of the receiver, and in Fig. (5 I have shown my preferred construction of providing both for the opening of the valve at the proper time and for holding it open. As shown in this figure, I form on or secure to the valve F a piston, (indicated at F1,) working in a cylinder J which cylinder I connect conveniently bya pipe J2 with the transmission-tube- Preferably the pipe Jzpasses to the trunnion on one side of the receiver, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, and then connects through the truunion with a pipe J3, which in turn is in connection with the transmission-tube. By this arrangement it will be obvious that the pressure in the cylinderJ will be maintained at all times equal to that in the transmissiontube and acting on the piston F4 will hold the valve to its seat with a resilient pressure equal to the normal pressure in the tube, the device being in fact a pneumatic spring. As

shown, I secure the cylinder J in position by means of a screw-threaded clamping-ring GS, which engages and holds the head G1 of the cylinder in position, the end of the cylinder-head bein ginternallylthreaded, as shown, to engage the threaded-rod-supporting bear ing G1".

G11 indicates a stuffing-box gland.

Preferably I employ a spring I to supplement the action of the pneumatic spring; but ot' course this springmay be light in comparison with the one used and relied upon to hold the valve seated, audit will be obvious that the action of the pneumatic spring is in effect a differential action, by means of which the openingof the valve is determined by the rela tive pressure in the transmission-tube and in the receiver.

In orderto hold the valve F open, I provide it with a detent, as indicated at F5, and to operate in connection with this detentI provide a latch K, which, as shown in Fig. 6, passes through a bearing J in the edge ol the cylinder J. The said latch-pin K is pressed upward by the spring K2, and obviously whenever the valve F is moved backward to a su fficient degree the latch K will spring into the detent F5 and hold the valve in its open position and so that all the air in front of the carrier can escape into the exhaust-passage lI. The release of the latch is, as shown, effected by the movement of the receiver on its trunnions. The stem of the latch K is slotted, as indicated at K', a pin on the arm K3 ot' a bell-crank lever K3 K4 fitting in this slot, and the arm K4 of the lever being connected,as indicated in Figs. 3 and 7, byarod K5 with the point K6 eccentric to the trunnions, so that as the receiver moves from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 7 to that shown in dot-ted lines in the same figure the latch will be retracted, permitting the valve to close.

In Fig. 8 I have illustrated another modification of the valve controlling and actuating device resembling that illustrated in Fig. (5 in the employment of the pneumatic spring and also in that it embodies a construction in which provision is made to hold the valve open after it is opened by the compression of air in front of the carrier.

In the construction of Fig. S the valve (here indicated by the symbol F) is, as before stated, a piston-valve, and it has secured to its rear a piston F7, moving in a cylinderj, the said piston and cylinder differing in no material degree from that indicated at F1and .I in Fig. G. The end of the cylinder J, which is formed by a casting G12, is closed by a screw-plug G13, against which rests a sprint,r I, and a pipe .l2 leads into the cylinder j, maintaining the air-pressure therein equal to that in the transmission-tube. It will be obvious from an inspection ot the drawings that the action of the air-pressure, as Well as of the spring I, is to force the piston-valve F forward out of the cylindrical opening d1,

IOO

IIO

which serves as its seat; but the valve is held in position to close the passage by a latch K11, forming, as shown,one arm. of a bell-crank lever, the other arm of which is indicated at K10, K12 indicating a spring, the action of which is to draw down the latch-lever out of engagement with the detent-ring F0, secured on the valve-stem F2 and which, as shown, interlocks with. the end of the lever K11 in normal position. On the entrance of a carrier into the receiver D the compression of the air infront of it, acting on the face of the piston-valve F', will thrust it backward until the latch-lever K11 is released from its engagement with the detent F0, whereupon the spring K12 will draw it down, so that the spring in the rear of the valve can force it forward out of its annular seat d4, permitting the air to escape freely through the said seat. The return of the valve to position to close the end of the receiver and the rengagement of the valve with the latch-lever K11 are effected by the movement of the receiver to deliver the carrier, and, as shown, through the somewhat eccentrically-secured rod K5 and bell-crank lever K4 K3, which in this case, however, are connected to a rod K1, having upon it, as shown, springs K8 and K0, the spring` KS resting'below and in position to engage and lift the arm K10 of the lever K10 K11, while the spring K0 is in position to engage and lift the arm K13 of a bell-crank lever K13 K11, the arm K11 of which is moved in against the detentring F0, so as to force the valve F' backward until the detent-ring has passed and been en-l gaged by the latch-lever arm K11.

The receiverD, as in the case of the similar receiver shown and described in my former patent, No. 585,498, of June 29, 1897, is arranged to move after its reception of the carrier to deliver the carrier, and the motor which moves it is set in operation by the entrance of a carrier into the receiver, while the return of the receiver to registry with the transmission-tube is effected by the delivery of the carrier. In my present and improved construction, however, Iprovide a motor-controlling device having a resilient tendency to move to a position to actuate the motor in a direction to move the receiver out of registry with the transmission-tube, and I provide also a catch or latch arranged to engage the motor-controlling device when moved to a posi.- tion to actuate the motor to return the receiver into registry with the tube, and I provide means whereby the entrance oi' a carrier into the receiver acts not directly upon the motor-controlling device, but upon the latch in a direction to release its hold upon the controlling device, which thereupon automatically moves'to its normal position, causing the motor to shift the position of the receiver, a return of the motor-controlling device to engagement with the latch being preferablyeffected by the delivery of the carrier from the receiver. Preferably l utilize the compression of air in the receiver, due to the entran ce of a carrier, for the purpose of acting upon the latch, and in the best form I connect the latch with the piston operating in the cylinder, which cylinder is connected on one side with the transmission-tube and on the other side with the receiver, so that the latch is not operated upon by any mere variation of pressure common to the receiver and tube, but only by an excess of pressure in the receiver over that in the tube.

While any convenient motor and motor-actuating device may be used, I prefer to use, as in my former construction, a pneumatic cylinder and the valve controlling the admission of compressed air to the two ends of the cylinder, and this construction I have illustrated in the drawings, in which M indicates the motor-cylinder, and M' a piston working therein and connected through piston-rod M3, cross-head M4, and connecting-rod M5 with the receiver.

N indicates the valve-chamber having an internal admission-chamber N' connecting with a pipe N2, leading from a source of air under press u re, the chamber N opening through the cylindrical ports N3 and N1 into the eX- haust-passage N7. 1

N5 and N0 indicate ports leading from the cylindrical valve-casing to the ports M7 and M0 of the motor-cylinder.

P indicates a double piston-valve working in the cylindrical valve-seat of the casing N and adapted to connect the ports M0 and M7 alternately with the pressure fluid and with the exhaust-ports.

P is the valve-stem, having a head P2 at its upper end and a head P3 at its lower end.

O indicates a chamber formed in or connected with the head of the valve-casing N and having connected therewith spring-chambers O2 and O'. The head of the chamber O2 is closed by a block through which screws the adjusting-screw O3, between which and the head P2 of the valve-rod is situated a spring O4, the action of which is to press the valverod and valve backward into the position illustrated in Fig. 9.

O5 is a cylinder formed, as shown, in the same casing as the chamber O and extending at right angles to said chamber. This cylinder connects through a port O0 with a pipe L', leading, as indicated in Figs. 1 and Lt, through one ofthe trunnions of the receiver D and connecting with a pipe L, leading to the rear end of the receiver. rlhe other end of the cylinder O5 connects through a port O7 with the pipe L2, leading, as indicated in Fig. l, to the transmission-tube.

Q is a latch situated in the chamber() and connected, as shown, with a spring Q', situated in the chamber O' and connected to the adj Listing-screw Q2,tl1e operation ofthe spring being to draw the latch in toward the pistonrod P' and so as to engage on the shoulder P1, secured to said rod, when the rod is raised to a sufficient height.

Q0 isY a piston-rod attached to the latch on IOO IIO

the opposite side to the spring Q and eonnected with a piston Q4, moving in the cylinder O5.

The operation of the parts above described is readily followed. rlhe normal position of rest of the valve Pis its elevated position, in which it connects the chamber N with the upper end of the cylinder M and connects the lower end of this'eylinder with the exhaustport- N7. In this position it is held by the engagement of the latch Q with the shoulder P4, the latch being held in position by the spring Q'. XVhile the pressure at both ends of the cylinder O5 is equal, being simply that of the transmission-tube, on the entrance ot' a carri'er into the receiver, however, the pressure of the air introduced into the cylinder through the pipes L and L is materially increased over that introduced into the cylinder through the pipe L2, and the piston O4 moves outward, carrying with it the latch and releasing the shoulder I, whereupon the action of the spring Ol1 at once moves the valve to the position shown in Fig. 9, whereupon the airis exhausted from the upper end ofthe cylinder lll and admitted into the lower end of said cylinder, with the result of moving the receiver out of registry with the transmission-tube.

R indicates aplatform arranged to receive a carrier when delivered out of the receiver, said platform being pivoted at R' and counterweighted, so as to normally occupy the position shown in Fig. 2, as by a weight R2. It is, as shown, however, held in its receiving position by the engagement with a shoulder R7 on the platform of a shoulder S5, secured on a lever S2, pivoted at Sl.

S is a fixed abutment, upon the inclined face of which rests, through the medium of springs, as indicated, a yielding abutment S, S2 indicating a rod connected with the yielding abutment at one end and at the other end resting against or in close proximity with the lever S2,while SG indicates a spring which holds the lever S3 in contact or substantial contact with the rod S2.

R3 indicates a lever secured to the platform R at its pivotal point and connecting through a rod R4 with a bell-crank lever R5 R, the arm RG being arranged in such position with reference to the head P2 of the valve-rod as when the platform R moves downward to thrust it up until the shoulder P1 is engaged by the latch Q.

RS is a stop which limits the downward motion of the platform R.

'lhe operation of the parts last described has been partially indicated and is clear. The receiver swinging down under the influence of the motor delivers the carrier onto the platform R and against the elastic abutment S, which, acting through the rod S2, pushes outward the lever S3, releasing the engagement of the shoulders S5 and R7 and permitting the weight of the carrier to move the platform R down to ahorizontal position, provision being made, as in my former patent,

for. the delivery of the carrier from the platform at the end of its movement, whereupon the counterweight R2 will return the parts to the position shown in Fig. 2. The downward motion of the platform R, acting through the rod R4, as described, changes the position of the valve, effecting a reverse motion of the piston in the cylinder and the return of the receiver to normal position, where it remains until another carrier enters it.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination with a pneumatictransit tube and a tubular receiver adapted to receive a carrier transmitted through the tube and having a valve-seated opening, as D, at its rear end, of an exhaust-opening connected with said opening, avalve to close the opening,'aud a pneumatic spring connected with the transit-tu be and with the valve aforesaid, all substantially as specified and so that thcnormal pressure in the tube is utilized to hold the valve closed while permitting it to move under the increased pressure in the receiver duc to the entrance of a carrier.

2. The combination with a pneumatictransit tube and a tubular receiver adapted to receive a carrier transmitted through the tube and having a valve-seated opening, as D4, at its rear end, of an exhaust-opening connected with said opening, a valve to close the opening, a regulable spring, as I, and a pneumatic spring connected with the transittube,and with the valve aforesaid,all substantially as specified, and so that the normal pressure in the tube is utilized to hold the valve closed while permitting it to move under the increased pressure in the receiver due to the entrance of a carrier.

The combination with a pneumatictransit tube and a tubular receiver adapted to receive a carrier transmitted through the tube and having a valve-seated opening, as D, at its rear end, of an exhaust-opening connected with said opening, a valve to close the opening, yielding means acting to normally hold the valve closed but adapted to permit its opening under the pressure produced by the entrance of a carrier into the receiver, means for holding the valve in open position after it is opened by the pressure of air in the receiver and means, operated by the movement of the receiver to deliver the carrier, operating to return the valve toits closed position.

4. The combination with a pneumatictransit tube and a tubular receiver adapted to receive a carrier transmitted through the tube and having a valve-seated opening, as D4, at its rear end, of an exhaust-opening connected with said opening, a valve to close the opening, yielding means acting to normally hold the valve closed but adapted to permit its opening under the pressure produced by the entrance of a carrier into the receiver, a latch as K arranged to engage the valve and IIO hold it open and latch-releasing mechanism operated by the movement of the receiver to deliver the carrier.

5: In combination with a pneumatic-tran sit tube, the pivoted receiver D adapted to move into registry With the tube to receive a carrier and out of such registry to deliver the sa1ne,a shield Dzarranged to close the end of the tubes when the receiver moves aivayfrom it, a pipe E opening through shield D2 in position to register with the tube when the receiver is in delivering position and leading to the rear end of the receiver and a non-return valve as E3 situated in said pipe.

f5. In combination with a pneumatic-transit tube and a movable receiver adapted to move into registry with the tube to receive a carrier and out of registry therewith to deliver the same, a motor arranged to move the receiver, a motor-controlling device, and means, as a spring, for moving and holding said device to a position for actuatingv the motor to shift the receiverout of registry with the tube, a catch for holding said device in position to actuate the motor so as to return the receiver into registry with the tube, and catch-releasing mechanismactuated by an increase of pressure in the receiver.

7. In combination with a pneu rn atie-transit tube and a movable receiver adapted to move into registry with the tube to receive a carrier and out of registry therewith to deliver the same, a motor arranged to move the receiver, a motor-controlling device, and means, as a spring, for moving and holding said device to a position for actuating the motor to shift the receiver outof registry with the tube, a catch for holding said device in position to actuate the motor so as to return the receiver into registry With the tube and catch-releasing mechanism actuated by an increase of pressure in the receiver over that in the transmission-tube.

8. In combination with a pneumatic-transit tube and a movable receiver adapted to move into registry With the tube to receive a carrier and out of registry therewith to deliver the same, a motor arranged to move the receiver, a motor-controlling device and means, as a spring, for moving and holding said device to a position for actuating the motor to shift the receiver out of registry With the tube,

a catch for holding said device in position to actu ate the motor so as to return the receiver into registry With the tube, catch-releasing mechanism actuated by an increase of pressure in the receiver, and means, actuated by the delivery of a carrier from the receiver, for. returning the governing device to the catch.

9. In combination With a pneumatic-transit tube and a movable receiver adapted to move into registry With the tube to receive a carrier, and ont of registry therewith to deliver the same, a cylinder and piston as M M for shifting the receiver, a valve arranged to govern the admission and exhaust of motive iiuid to and from the cylinder, means, as a spring, for moving and holding said valve in position to effect the shifting of the receiver out of registry with the tube, a catch for holding said valve in its alternative position and means for releasing said catch actuated by an increase of pressure in the receiver.

10. In combination with a pneumatic-transit tube and a movable receiver adapted to move into registry with the tube to receive a carrier, and out of registry therewith to deliver the same, a cylinder and piston as M M for shiftin g the receiver, a valve arranged to govern the admission and exhaust of motive fluid to and from the cylinder, means, as a spring, for moving and holding said valve in position to eiect the shifting of the receiver out of registry with the tube, a catch for holding said valve in its alternative position, a cylinder Q5 connected at one end with the rear of the receiver and at the other end with the transmission-tube and a piston Q4 Working in said cylinder and connected with the catch as specified.

11. In combination With a pneumatic-transit tube and a receiver substantially as specified,

a pivoted receiving-platform as R arranged to receive the carrier after it is discharged from the receiver, a catch acting to hold said platform in its receiving position and catchreleasing mechanism arranged to be actuated by the delivery of a carrier onto said platform.

BIRNEY C. BATOHELLER.

Witnesses:

CHAs. F. MYERS, D. STEWART. 

